People have told me that what they most appreciate about me is my enthusiasm: they want to be involved in what I am doing because they enjoy sharing in that energy.  For my part, I work hard at communicating clearly and consistently with clients, colleagues and suppliers alike, both to ensure that everyone understands the message, but more importantly, so that everyone sees that success for our clients is success for all of us. At a more basic level, I think it is because I love to plan, I love to find solutions, I love to work with people and I love watching those people succeed.

What are some of the challenges you face?

Wanting to give every client and every event the very best – but there’s only 24 hours in a day and seven days in a week. I have noticed that event managers tend to be perfectionist by nature. So wanting only the best is always the goal. And most of the time you only get one shot at it, which of course drives a perfectionist crazy. But you do your stuff and you learn from each event, and then you get to do it even better the next time.   

What have been some of your biggest achievements?

As long as you add the word ‘professional’ (my two children and my 27 year marriage are my most treasured accomplishments), the obvious answer would be producing the David Foster Gala in Halifax, where I was rubbing shoulders with performance super-stars and the glitterati of the region. But I genuinely get as much satisfaction supporting clients and smaller events which are just as important in their eyes and in mine.  For instance, ZedEvents has helped to build a seasonal event for housing-challenged people in Halifax that, I would say, is the most rewarding achievement of my career. And, of course, watching my team succeed provides me with my most rewarding moments.

What do you like best about the meetings industry?

What’s not to like? The dynamics, the drama, the challenges, the clients, the partners and friends you make along the journey – it’s all good.  But at the risk of sounding trite, as an event management consultant I love watching my clients succeed. I love being the coach on the bench and watching the players win the game. At 50, it really is about watching others benefit from your wisdom, your experience and, most of all, your mistakes. As I tell my cherished children: you learn more from your mistakes than your successes – and if that truly is the case, then I must be really good by now!

Filed under: Interviews & Profiles